NC Builder Magazine Summer 2012

Vol. 42, No.2 Summer 2012

The official magazine of the North Carolina Home Builders Association

by Lisa Martin, NCHBA Director of Government Affairs

NCHBA members were able to meet with members of both the U.S. Congress and the

N.C. General Assembly earlier this summer to encourage support of issues important to the home building industry.

A record crowd met with North Carolina legislators May 22-23 as part of NCHBA’s annual Legislative Conference in Raleigh. The legislature’s Short Session had just begun, but legislators were able to take a break from their busy schedules to meet with our members both at the annual reception at the N.C. History Museum May 22 and in their offices the next day.

Capitol InsiderNCHBA members lobby in Washington and Raleigh

s NCHBA members met with Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) in the afternoon for a candid conversation about several pieces of legislation.

(See CAPITOL INSIDER on page 4)

Several NCHBA members stop by the office of Rep. Brad Miller (D–NC), pictured fourth from right, to thank him for

being a primary co-sponsor of HR1755, aimed at easing the credit crisis for the home building industry.

2 North CaroliNa Builder Summer 2012

Contents 10. Code Corner 11. NCHBA News Briefs

The official magazine of theNorth Carolina Home Builders Association 2005 Communicator Award Winner

Dedicated to the advancement of the home building industry, North Carolina Builder (ISSN 1552-8685) is published monthly for the members of the North Carolina Home Builders Association, P.O. Box 99090, Raleigh, N.C. 27624-9090. (800) 662-7129 • http://www.nchba.com

Mike CarpenterExecutive Vice President [email protected] and General Counse l

lisa MartinDirector of Government Affairs [email protected]

robert PrivottDirector of Codes and Construction [email protected]

Kathryn atkinsonDirector of Membership Services [email protected]

deborah alfordDirector of Exhibitions [email protected] and Education

tracie GarrettDirector of Exhibitor Services [email protected]

Kep PaylorVocational Education [email protected]

Mike elledgeController [email protected]

erin JonesManager of [email protected] Political Operations

heather MassengillDirector of Communications [email protected] and Managing Editor

Brittany WeathersbeeAssistant Education Coordinator [email protected]

Beth GrayReceptionist [email protected]

Publisher Kevin NaughtonGraphic designer Jason Gabeladvertising Sales Manager Brenda Poeadvertising SalesMarsha Suwienski: (800) 935-1592, ext. [email protected] Poe: (800) 935-1592, ext. [email protected]

Published by:

2929 Davison Rd., Flint, MI 48506 • (810) 239-5763

Acceptance of advertising in North Carolina Builder does not imply endorsement of the product or service by NCHBA. Opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and people quoted and not necessarily those of NCHBA, nor does mention of specific products in editorial content imply endorsement by NCHBA. No material may be reproduced for further publication without the express permission of the association.

North Carolina Builder is published for the principals and employees of all member firms of the North Carolina Home Builders Association and its receipt is included in the membership fee. North Carolina Builder is published six times per year. Since the mailing list used by North Carolina Builder is compiled according to membership records, address corrections should be directed to your local association. Dues paid to NCHBA are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. However, they may be deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses subject to restrictions imposed as a result of association lobbying activities. NCHBA estimates that the nondeductible portion of your 2012 dues — the portion that is allocable to lobbying — is 39 percent.

Affiliated with the National Association

of Home Builders.

Visit us at booth #834

Features Vol. 42, No. 2, Summer 2012

Invest in the future of your business at the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference _______________________ 6NCBI debuts new Accredited Remodeler Designation_______________ 7Be honored among the best of the home building industry ___________ 8Golfers raise more than $4,250 for scholarships _____________________ 9Five earn NCBI accreditations ________________________________ 10

A little story here…… I was lucky enough to win the NC BUILD-PAC NCAA basketball tournament pool

this year. My process for selecting the teams was very scientific. The analysis and actual selection of all winning teams took about 45 seconds. It is just luck that I had more points than others participating.

Anyway, as the ‘winner’ of the pool, Erin Jones from NCHBA Staff asked me for my favorite team, college, pro, etc. (I was guessing I was going to get a shirt from this school). I thought for a minute and told her it was Tuskegee University. Why? I had just finished reading the autobiography of Booker T. Washington and I was really thinking about what he had accomplished.

Booker T. Washington was born into slavery in the late 1850’s. In his book, he talked about the conditions of his fellow slaves. When they were freed after the Civil War, he realized how important education was. There was one thing in his life he was going to accomplish, and that was to be educated. Could you imagine how difficult that task would be for a 7 or 8 year old freed slave in the south? Mr. Washington walked and hitched rides for hundreds of miles, just to attend schools. He went to class during the day, worked in the evenings to pay for his room and board, and studied at night. Again, think of the conditions and environment for this very young black child in the 1860’s.

Mr. Washington, through lots of hard work and conviction, did get his education. He saw so much value in his education that he wanted to provide educational opportunities to other freed slaves in the South. So once again, he

tackled a difficult challenge head on. He decided he would start a school in Tuskegee, Alabama to educate the black population. This was 1881, this was the deep South. He had no land, no money, no books and no teachers. He did have his commitment, his dedication and his belief in himself.

He gave the people of Tuskegee his word and honored his word. The people in Tuskegee, both whites and blacks, gradually began to trust him and help him. He built buildings one at a time, often not knowing from where the money was going to come. He ended up building a University out of his dreams and was able to better the lives of many people.

Mr. Washington never complained one time in his autobiography about the way he or his race was treated. He was just appreciative of what he had and what he could do. He had nothing but kind words for everybody he met.

That little boy born into slavery eventually built a university and, along the way, became a trusted advisor to United States Presidents and leaders all over the world. Amazing.

So, back to my t-shirt... The reason I selected Tuskegee was because of what Mr. Washington espoused. He had belief in himself. He had dedication. He had respect. He had integrity. He quietly did what he said he would do. He worked through some very tough times (times we could never imagine) in his life and became successful.

We have had tough times in our industry. We persevered due to many of the same traits Mr. Washington had – belief, dedication, respect, integrity, commitment. We need to keep going and realize we can and will be successful. Go Tuskegee.

President’s Messageby Erik Anderson, 2012 NCHBA President

Anderson

We Can and Will Be Successful


Among the NCHBA legislative priorities that members discussed:

• S 731 Zoning/Design & Aesthetic Controls

• Residential Inspections in New Construction

• Copper (Metals) Theft• NC Housing Trust FundAt the time of this writing, the 2012

“short session” is close to adjournment. Look for a recap of the 2012 Legislative Session in an upcoming issue of North Carolina Builder magazine.

Just a few weeks later, members traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress.

A few of the legislative priorities discussed with our Congressmen were:

• Housing Credit Crisis, in particular HR 1755 Home Construction Lending Regulatory Improvement Act of 2011 and S. 2078 Home Building Lending Improvement Act of 2011

• Housing Finance Reform - Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs)

• Tax Reform, in particular the Mortgage Interest Deduction and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit

• Lead-Based Paint RRP Program, in particular S.2148 the Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act of 2012

• Wetlands, in particular S.2245 and HR 4965 Preserve the Waters of the United States Act

• Credit Union Small Business Lending Cap

The following pages show a “snapshot” of both the NCHBA and NAHB Legislative Conferences. Thanks to everyone who par-ticipated, and we hope to see you next year!

Capitol insider(continued from page 1)

s A large group from the Alamance-Caswell HBA meets with Rep. Dan Ingle (R–Alamance), right, and Sen. Rick Gunn (R–Alamance), left.

Kevin Annas, left, talks with Rep. High Blackwell (R–Burke) and Sen. Warren Daniel (R–Burke) (right) at the Legislative Reception.

s Mary Jo Wilson, Kelley St. Germain, Rep. Jonathan Jordan (R–Ashe) and Mickey Pruitt.

s Members of the Winston-Salem HBA meet with Sen. Pete Brunstetter (R–Forsyth) in his legislative office.

s Sen. Kay Hagan (D–NC) addresses the large contingent from North Carolina at NAHB Legislative Day.

s Sen. David Rouzer (R–Johnston), center, meets with (l-r) Freddie Stancil, Sherry Pinney-Phillips, Sean Holmes and Neil Jarman.

Summer 2012 North CaroliNa Builder 5

s A large group from NC meets with Rep. Walter Jones (D–NC), pictured fifth from left, in his office on Capitol Hill.

s Rep. Bill Brawley (R-Mecklenburg) (left) and Sen. Bob Rucho (R-Mecklenburg) (right) talk with NCHBA Executive Vice President Mike Carpenter.

s Members from the Greensboro BA meet with Rep. Gladys Robinson (D-Guilford) (second from left) and Sen. Don Vaughan (D-Guilford) (fourth from left). Also pictured l-r: Judy Stadler, Gary Hill, Cheryl Collins and Phil Warrick.

s Richard White, John DeBoy, Maxinne Rossman, Duke Geraghty and Sen. Stan White (D–Dare).

s Rep. Elmer Floyd (D–Cumberland) meets with a group from the Fayetteville HBA.


Industry experts predict that the worst of the housing downturn is behind us. As more buyers enter the market, you must be prepared for the buyers of today, not the buyers of five years ago. Today’s buyers are more savvy, armed with research from the internet, and expect certain features in their new home. Are you prepared to meet this challenge?The 21st Century Building Expo & Conference is the place to arm your company with

the tools, resources and knowledge to meet the high expectations of today’s new home buyers. We invite you to join us September 26-28, 2012, at the Charlotte Convention Center for the region’s premier tradeshow for the home building industry.

Just as today’s buyers are different, the 21CBEC is evolving and brings new excitement and events to attendees in 2012. A few of our most exciting highlights are described below. To learn more about the conference and expo, visit www.21buildingexpo.com.

• A special general session presentation will prepare you for the buyers of today—The Buyers Are Back: What Do You Need to Succeed in Today’s Market? This course, broken down into short segments, will discuss the key topics that you should be knowledgeable in for today’s buyer, such as marketing essentials, a website, how to develop a marketing budget, appraisals and working with real estate agents. This intensive course on Thursday, September 27, will be taught by nationally-recognized speakers. Register as a Full Delegate to attend this seminar, in addition to any of our other general session seminars.

• The three-day educational conference will feature more than 50 courses and seminars for builders and associates in the industry. You can obtain the NAHB Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist and Certified Green Professional designation over the three days. In addition, the Advanced Green Building: Project Management course will be offered for the first time.

• Six new North Carolina Builder Institute courses will debut at the Expo, ranging in topics from negotiating to code requirements to remodeling.

• For our plumbing and electrical attendees, we will offer two six-hour state-approved continuing education courses so that you may take your CE while at the Expo. These courses will be offered on Friday.

• The brand new Forward Thinking Solutions Stage will offer short presentations on the Expo Floor on the latest trends in home building at no additional charge. Exhibitors will present on topics such as color trends, outdoor lighting, USDA financing, floor plan trends and much more.

These are just a few of the many exciting events planned at the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference this year. We hope that you can join us September 26–28 as we celebrate 10 years bringing our members a high-quality tradeshow that is geographically convenient, affordable and rewarding.

Please visit our website, www.21buildingexpo.com, for more information about the 21CBEC or call the NCHBA office at 1-800-662-7129.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR NCHBA MEMBERS!Enter promo code NCBM for $10 off your registration fees. This discount will make the Expo

Floor free through September 25 or take $10 off your course registration fees.

Invest in the future of your business at the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference

What’s my ROI?• Increase Profits. Our exhibitors

show you how, using the latest products and services.

• Be on top of industry trends. Our seminars offer current, industry-specific information.

• Generate new business. Our abundant networking opportunities provide the contacts.

• Gain a competitive edge. Our courses help you earn your professional designations.


NCBI debuts new Accredited Remodeler Designation

The North Carolina Builder Institute is adding a new designation to its professional development program to give general contractors a designation that offers specific education related to the remodeling segment. The Accredited Remodeler

curriculum is designed for those who have worked in remodeling for years or those who are interested in entering the field. Students will gain a broad education in the key areas of home building, along with specific education related to the remodeling segment, such as project and time management.

Requirements:• Complete 72 hours of course work in the 100 and/or 200

level of the NCBI curriculum. • Of the 72 total hours, 16 hours are mandatory courses.• The remaining 56 hours may be elective course work in the 100 and/or 200 level courses.

• Designees must attend 8 hours of continuing education annually in the home building industry to maintain their designation.

Two of the mandatory courses will be offered at the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference this year.

The Numbers Behind a Successful Remodeling Business ($95)Friday, September 28, 8 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.Knowing your numbers is the first step in creating a successful

remodeling business. First, this class will review the typical structure,

function, and processes of a remodeling company. We will discuss overhead structure, profit and loss statements, and why it is nearly impossible to do both new construction and remodeling successfully. At the end of this class, you will be able to determine your overhead, your markup, and calculate, using numbers, what your yearly profit will be.

Remodeling: The Bad and The Good Strategies for Success ($95)

Friday, September 28, 2 p.m.–5:30 p.m.This course will look first at some of the mistakes remodeling

companies make and discuss the consequences of these mistakes. After we have the negative ideas out of the way, we will concentrate on the successful tactics of many remodeling companies. Students will review and discuss various remodeling benchmarks to which a company can strive.

To view a complete list of the courses offered at the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference September 26-28, 2012, in Charlotte, visit www.21buildingexpo.com. In addition to these courses, more than 50 seminars and courses will be offered.

For more information about the North Carolina Builder Institute visit www.nchba.com or call the NCHBA office at 1-800-662-7129.


The STARS Awards—a centerpiece of the 21st Century Building Expo and Conference—salute the outstanding professional performance of HBA members throughout the region.

The prestigious awards program honors the achievements of builders, associates, realtors, media and advertising professionals, and many others who make major contributions to the residential home building industry. Local home builders associations are also honored for their outstanding achievements. With 48 categories to choose from, there is something for everyone!

Do you have a great project that deserves recognition? Do you need a creative way to make your product and company stand out above the competition? If so, enter the STARS Awards!

Eligibility: Any member of the National Association of Home Builders is eligible to enter the STARS Awards Program. Projects must

be completed between July 15, 2010, and July 15, 2012.

Deadlines: The deadline for early-bird entries ($100) is July 12, 2012, and the regular entry deadline is July 19, 2012 ($150).

Winners: The winning entries will be announced September 26, 2012, at the STARS Awards Gala at the Omni Charlotte Hotel. Tickets are $75 until Sept. 19 and $100 starting Sept. 20. Register to attend the 21CBEC to purchase your tickets or download a ticket reservation form at www.21buildingexpo.com.

Categories include:• Marketing and Advertising to include brochures, newsletters

and publications, logo, advertisements, websites, billboard and internet/multimedia projects.

• Sales/Information Center• Landscape Design• Architecture/Floor Plan• Remodeling/Renovation• Local HBA Awards• Special Projects• Community of the Year• Distinguished Builder Member of the Year (by nomination)• Distinguished Associate Member of the Year (by nomination)• Interior Merchandising

Download the Call for Entries brochure at www.21buildingexpo.com/stars.html. Contact Kathryn Atkinson at [email protected] or 1-800-662-7129 for more information.

Be honored among the best of the home building industry


Golfers teed off under a beautiful sunny sky April 27 at Bryan Park Golf Club to raise money for the North Carolina Home Builders

Educational & Charitable Foundation Inc., which provides scholarships for students entering the building industry.

The Builders Classic Golf Tournament turned out to be another big success this year as golfers helped raise more than $4,250 for the foundation.

Taking home first place honors was the team of Rick Tozier, Jacob Tozier, Gary Hennessey and Will Henderson. Tozier, President of Sonoma Building Co., also claimed the President’s Cup Trophy—a competition among former and current local, state or national HBA presidents for the lowest score in the tournament. Tozier is a past president of the Winston-Salem HBA and currently serves as NCHBA Region VII Vice President.

The Logix team of Garland Swiney, Tim Temple, Ken Michael and Kenny Boone took home second place honors.

The foundation would like to thank the many companies that helped support this event through contributions of door prizes, gift bag items and hole sponsorships. It was through this generous support that this worthwhile event was made possible.

hole & Green SponsorsAMCASE, Inc.BB&TBrunswick County HBABuilders Mutual InsuranceDominion NC PowerLog Homes of America IncNC Professional Women in BuildingPacific MDF ProductsPiedmont Natural GasPella Window & Door CoPerma R’ Products (Logix)Professional Warranty Services CorpSchluter SystemsStock Building Supply - Triad

door Prizes/Goodie Bags84 LumberBonded Builders Warranty GroupBuilders Mutual InsuranceBuilders Digital ExperienceGuaranteed SupplyLog Homes of AmericaMoenParksitePiedmont Natural GasPhantom ScreensSchluter Systems

Beverage CartPiedmont Natural Gas

registration SponsorBonded Builders Warranty Group

s

Congratulations to the first place team of Jacob Tozier, Rick Tozier, Will Henderson and

Gary Hennessey.

Golfers raise more than $4,250 for scholarships


Earlier this spring, the 2012 Residential Code and Energy Code became effective. In order to help NCHBA members learn how to comply with these new changes, NCHBA will offer several courses at the

21st Century Building Expo & Conference September 26-28, 2012, in Charlotte.

On Thursday, September 27, from 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., I will present Building Energy Codes: An Introduction (BT203), which will build a long-term understanding of the North Carolina Energy Code requirements and the lasting capabilities of the construction marketplace to meet or exceed all required energy code standards in building designs, approved plans and constructed buildings. BT203 is part of the North Carolina Builder Institute curriculum.

Later in the day, I will teach Building Codes (PM107) to help builders and remodelers meet the relevant codes and standards in their homes. We will discuss changes to the 2012 NC Residential Building Codes, in addition to discussing how to deal with state and local building departments, plan review, permits, inspections, code enforcement and

the appeals process. PM107 is also part of the North Carolina Builder Institute curriculum.

A few other NCBI courses that you may want to check out include Wall Bracing Requirements of the Residential Code; Advanced Design of Foundations; and Advanced Design of Floors. Each of these courses is taught by Steve Knight and will provide a more thorough knowledge of the code in these topics.

Lastly, several of our general seminars may be of interest to you if you keep up with the code changes: Changes in the 2012 National Green Building Standard; Air Sealing Tips, Techniques and Code Requirements; Energy Star: Building Science; and Energy Star 2012: Understanding version 3.0.

A Full Delegate registration allows participants to attend any of the general session seminars. Continuing education courses (NCBI/NAHB) include general session seminars as well.

For more information or to register, visit www.21buildingexpo.com or call 1-800-662-7129.

Code Cornerby Robert Privott, Director of Codes and Construction

Privott

accredited Master BuilderHart AskewBluewater Home ConstructionNew Bern, NCHart Askew joined his father at Blue Water Home Construction in 2002 as co-owner and field superintendent. Also a licensed general contractor, he shares in his father’s vision of building homes that surpass the expectations of each buyer. Askew is a member of the HBA of Craven and Pamlico Cos.

Todd LincolnLincoln & AssociatesDurham, NCTodd is a professional home builder, photographer and dedicated father who

believes in keeping it simple, sharing with and empowering others, and serving his community. He began his construction career in 1974 when he was just big enough to sweep floors for a crew of carpenters. He apprenticed as an electrician at the Apprentice School at Newport News Ship and Dry Dock, and learned the plumbing trade while working for an electrical and plumbing contractor in Chapel Hill, NC. He has operated a framing company, managed a franchised handyman company, and worked as a production manager and estimator for

small to medium sized building companies. Todd served on the board of directors and worked as an estimator and construction coordinator for Rebuilding Together of the Triangle. Currently, he works as a Project Manager and is the qualifier for the company’s license at RT Lincoln. He is an active member of the HBA of Durham, Orange and Chatham Cos.

Steve Sherrill Sherrill Builders, Inc.Fayetteville, NCSteve Sherrill started in the construction industry in 1974. After a number of years

jumping in and out of the construction business he finally started his own business in April 2000. Sherrill Builders Inc. specializes in custom homes, giving close detail to the quality at every level. Sherrill is always eager to increase his knowledge base in residential construction and to find new and improved products and technique.

accredited BuilderJeff SandersonWhitney Blair Inc.Ocean Isle Beach, NCJeff Sanderson founded Whitney Blair Custom Homes in 1986 based on two

major beliefs: treat each client as a valuable partner in the home design and building process and design and construct homes utilizing advanced technologies and building methods, resulting in homes that are of the highest quality and that are equally energy and environmentally efficient. Whitney Blair participates in the Southern Living Custom Builder Program, and in 2008, Southern Living honored Whitney Blair as their Custom Builder of the Year. The company has also received numerous NCHBA STARS Awards. Sanderson currently serves as President of the Brunswick Co. HBA.

Adam TerracinaAJT ConstructionRaleigh, NCAdam Terracina is president of AJT Construction in Raleigh, NC. Terracina also

is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist and Certified Green Professional. AJT Construction is a member of the HBA of Raleigh-Wake Co.

The Fall Session of the North Carolina Builder Institute will be held September 26-28, 2012, in conjunction with the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference. To view the complete list of courses, visit www.21buildingexpo.com.

Five earn NCBI accreditationsCongratulations to the following graduates of the North Carolina Builder Institute:


NCHBA News BriefsNChBa Member rebate Program Gives Money Back to Builders

By now many of you may have received your first check from the NCHBA Member Rebate Program. Checks for the final half of 2011 were mailed this spring and ranged in value, with some totaling over $1,000!

If you haven’t registered to take advantage of this program, it’s not too late to get started for 2012. This program puts money back in the hands of builders if they purchase supplies from any of the 30+ participating leading manufacturers.

The deadline for the 2nd Quarter (January–June) will be the end of August. Claim forms will be available on the website by the second week in July.

Find out who is participating in the program, how to claim your rebates, and much more on the website: http://www.hbarebates.com/nchba.html. You must be a current NCHBA builder or remodeler member to qualify for the rebates.

NahB debuts New toolkitsNAHB has compiled a series of resources designed to help members

position their businesses to succeed and thrive as the economic situation improves. From guidance on improving how you build and sell homes to general business management tactics to briefings on specific issues such as appraisals, AD&C lending and more, the Rebounding Success Toolkits bring together the expertise of the NAHB federation in one comprehensive online source.

Member 101 Toolkits—This series of toolkits provides you with the resources you need to make certain you are poised and ready for future success. These toolkits start with the basics and provide members the building blocks needed to succeed in this industry. These introductory tools are organized into topics including Land Development, Building Homes, Selling Homes, and Business Management.

Land Use 101—It is clear that regardless of whether a specific community receives federal funding, the new federal programs under the Sustainable Communities Initiative have created a new national dialogue and precedent for reform of state and local requirements on where, how, and when development—and thus homebuilding—can proceed. The Land Use 101 Toolkit helps members of the building industry get involved early in reform efforts to ensure that their perspectives and experiences are represented.

Building Homes 101—There are as many ways to build a home as there are builders. These resources will provide you with information on a wide array of building products and techniques and the tools you need to both build the homes your customers desire and achieve the business security you require. Topics include construction financing, building products, building techniques and green building.

Selling Homes 101—In this section you will find tips and tactics to successfully market yourself and your homes. This toolkit provides you “How To” information from maneuvering the challenges of appraisals

to selling yourself and your products to the tech savvy consumer. Topics include appraisals, marketing your homes and marketing yourself.

Business Management 101—Manage your business more effectively and increase your profits with the materials compiled here. The articles and resources cover strategic planning, financial management, marketing and sales, construction management, information technology and much more.

Bar, PreP and hCCP exams offered July 25 NCHBA will offer three exams on July 25 at 9:30 a.m. for those

considering earning an NAHB designation. The Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP), Professional Remodeler Experience Profile (PREP) and Builder Assessment Review (BAR) exams will be offered. These exams are rarely scheduled in North Carolina, so if you are considering earning an NAHB designation, make sure you take advantage of the opportunity. The BAR or PREP is the first step toward either the Certified Graduate Remodeler or Certified Graduate Builder designations. You must pre-register by Monday, July 16.

To register or learn more about the exams, visit www.nchba.com or email Brittany Weathersbee at [email protected] for a registration form.

NC Builder Magazine Summer 2012

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Transcript of NC Builder Magazine Summer 2012